Objective:

To describe the experiences of mothers who underwent domestic accidents involving their children, in the light of Roy's Adaptation Model.

Method:

A qualitative study. The data were collected in the participants' homes through semi-structured interviews and submitted to the content analysis technique. Roy's Adaptation Model was used as theoretical framework.

Main results:

The study participants were 17 mothers, whose testimonies were grouped into three thematic categories: Facing the challenge of saving their child's life; Recognizing the moment of (lack of) care with their child; and Learning from their own mistakes.

Main conclusion:

Mothers with difficulties recognizing their mistakes and possible negligence were identified, attributing responsibility for the accident to their own child. When adopting Roy's Adaptation Model to anchor their clinical practice, nurses must be aware of the emotional needs of the adaptive systems of those involved.